Five Missouri school districts and a school bus company were awarded $672,540 in grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to replace 18 out-of-date, heavy-emission buses with newer, cleaner buses, including 10 fueled by propane power.
The funding is part of over $77 million in grants from the Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA) National and States Grants programs. The grants are awarded to projects reducing diesel emissions from vehicles with old and dirty engines, a Nov. 22 press release from the EPA said. Reducing emissions is a key part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which funds the Clean School Bus Plan, seeking to replace buses around the country with new, low-or no-carbon school buses.
“Cleaner trucks, buses, boats, and heavy equipment keep local economies thriving while better protecting the health of the people living and working near ports, schools, and along delivery routes,” EPA Administrator Michael Regan said in the release. “Combined with $5 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law going to electric and alternative fuel school buses over the coming months and years, EPA is leading an unprecedented investment in cleaner air for communities across the country.”
The $5 billion in funding is set to be distributed between 2022 and 2026, with $500 million available each year for electric school buses and another $500 million for both electric buses and various types of cleaner alternative school buses, the Clean School Bus Plan states.
As of Nov. 22, the EPA has awarded 55 national grants through DERA, the release said. All 55 of these projects are set to reduce diesel pollution and benefit local communities, many of which are facing environmental justice concerns. The five districts receiving funding are the Community R-VI School District, Laddonia, Audrain County; Winona R-III School District, Winona; Wheatland R-II Schools, Wheatland; Platte County R3 School District, Platte City and Sikeston R-6 schools, Sikeston. Leonard Academy Inc, serving the Independence School District, received $449,707 of the funds for 10 propane-powered vehicles.
An additional $24 million was awarded by DERA to 49 states and three territories to develop local emission reduction programs, the release said.
